Metropolitan Railway "F" Class from a Bachmann "Jinty"

[MetStui]

Hi all

This is the third (and for the foreseeable future, last) loco conversion in this "series" of making Metropolitan Railway locomotives for my Met/GWR layout "Butlers Gate Crossing". The others are my "G" Class 0-6-4T and "K" 2-6-4T, the links for those topics are below if youre interested

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/74675-metropolitan-railway-g-class-0-6-4t-in-oo-gauge/&do=findComment&comment=1118426

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/74714-met-railway-k-class-2-6-4t-from-a-Bachmann-n-class/

 

This project is of one of the four "F" Class 0-6-2Ts built by the Yorkshire Engine Co in 1901 for freight work on the Met Mainline. I have converted it from a Bachmann "Jinty" which proved to be quite a challenge, with pretty much everything about the engine rebuilt.

The summary of the surgery is as follows 

- Rear Frame extension and pony truck added to the chassis 

- running plate extended

- new bunker, tank sides and cab constructed

- belpaire firebox top replaced by a round top

- front splashers/sandboxes built

- Smokebox shortened

Plus many smaller modifications!

 

This picture is how she looks at the moment, after painting but I still have lining to do plus extra detailing work, I will follow with various pictures in the construction process

 

 

[MetStui]

Mid construction- Tank Sides and bunker built as well as firebox top- beginnings of the cab

[MetStui]

A couple more construction shots- note how the side tanks had to be "shifted back" by cutting the front off and trimming the weight unit inside.

The smokebox front was turned up out of steel by "yours truly" on the lathe 

[MetStui]

My apologies to all those following this topic, due to many different circumstances I was not able to put up a photo of the completed loco until now even though I finished it in February. this is it fully lined and detailed, although a couple of small modifications have happened since this photo was taken. When I get round to doing a layout topic of "Butler's Gate Crossing" there will hopefully be more pics of this and the other met locos.

[Traintresta]

I noticed you have used card for structural modifications, something I've never done or considered, so I'm just wondering why that and not use metal or plastic are?